STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A six-week display of 30-foot LED installations, dubbed The NYC Winter Lantern Festival, opened its doors to the public for the first time Wednesday evening at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Livingston.
With any event, there is always a sense of skepticism. Is the price of admission worth what you're getting?
Here's what I can say: Visually, the NYC Winter Lantern Festival delivered.
Keep scrolling to check out some highlights and "must see" attractions from the opening night.
Want to see everything for yourself? Scroll down to learn how.
Irene Chang, 6, of Tottenville, and Ethan Li, 7, of Eltingville play on lily pad LED light display at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
1. Hop onto the LED jumping pads
Kids -- and those who are kids at heart -- enjoyed leaping around these panels of light.
Bibi Jordan, visiting from Malibu, Calif., after her house burned in the California wildfires, enjoyed her time at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
2. Take a walk through a shark's mouth
Want to annoy those around you? Sing "Baby Shark" as you walk through.
Harbor Eats was open during the debut of The NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola)
3. Grab a bite at Harbor Eats
Burgers, soft pretzels and popcorn were served at this Snug Harbor food shack. Heads up: There are limited food options at this event, but Harbor Eats is set to be open every day of the six-week festival.
The Maine Lobster food truck at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
4. Hit up the food truck area
The Maine Lobster food truck was the only mobile eatery present on opening night. According to organizers, there will be at least one food truck option every day of the festival. Tucked in a tight corner of the event, food trucks will line up by Building P, near the NYC Winter Lantern Festival performance stage.
Authentic Asian art on sale at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola)
5. Visit the authentic Asian shops
Across from the food truck is an intimate Asian market, where a couple of shops have tables set up under tents.
The Chang family from the South Shore poses for a photo in front of the Christmas tree LED light display. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
6. Need a holiday family photo? They have a tree for that
This tree is perfect for your next Christmas card set-up.
A man takes a photo inside the light tunnel. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
7. Take a walk down the light tunnel
Decked in light, the tunnel is a popular photo spot.
8. Look out for the festival performance schedule
Click here to check out the weekly performances at this event.
9. Say hi to the unofficial NYC Winter Lantern mascot
Upon walking into the festival area, guests are greeted by this LED panda.
The frog prince display at the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. (Shira Stoll/Staten Island Advance)
10. Check out the musical frogs
Guests can hear soft music play in sync with the changing lights of this frog prince display.
How to get your tickets
The NYC Winter Lantern Festival will last six weeks and consists of more than 40 installations.
Performances -- included with the price of admission -- are at 7 and 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; at 6:30, 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets are $23, or $15 for children under the age of 12, seniors and those in the military.
More information can be found at
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